Signs that you are your dog's favourite person
Dogs can bind together in a special way to a single dog carer
DOES YOUR DOG LOVE YOU AS MUCH AS YOU LOVE IT?
Reading time about 13 minutes
We are sure that your dog is the owner of your heart. But how does it feel about you? Does your dog love you as much as you love it? Does your pet prefer you over other people? Or, in short, are you its favourite person in the whole world? If you have ever wondered this, read on, because we are going to find out how these fascinating animals choose their main carer and preferred human, and what are the signs that will tell you that you are your dog's favourite.
Table of contents
1- How do dogs choose their favourite people?
2- Positive association: the key to being your dog's favourite person
3- Signs that your dog prefers you to other people
How do dogs choose their favourite people?
There are several factors that may influence your dog to choose one person over another, although, in general, they will always prefer those members of the household who devote more time to them and, above all, who are synonymous with positive experiences for them. So what are the specific things that will make your dog think of you as its favourite person?
The socialization period
At any time in your pet's life, socialization is the key to your dog's emotional balance and health. However, there is one stage, during puppyhood, when any experience will leave an imprint that will mark your dog for life. This occurs from birth to about 6 months of age. The quality and variety of these social experiences will determine your dog's behaviour and preferences as an adult. For example, if at this key socialization stage your dog didn't interact with hardly any men, it is likely that in the future, its favourite person will most likely be a woman and the animal will be suspicious of people of the opposite sex.
This is why exposing your puppy to all kinds of experiences and people in these first months of life is essential for the animal to develop properly. However, a dog's socialization should continue throughout its life. In fact, the more you participate, the more likely you are to become your pet's favourite person. Being by your dog's side as it discovers the world and encounters new experiences, such as games, walks in unfamiliar places, visits from different people, etc., will strengthen your bond and make your furry friend feel much closer to you.
Physical contact and affection
Another key to your dog considering you its favourite human is the physical affection you show your pet every day. If you pay attention to your dog often, give the animal caresses, look after it, keep an eye on it, etc., you can be sure that your pet will thank you for it, considering you the best human in its family. However, this physical contact must respect the animal's preferences and limits, because if we invade its space, we will cause the opposite effect.
Energy level and personality
Although it is most likely that the person who takes care of the dog for the longest time becomes its favourite human, sometimes this doesn't happen. Each dog has its own temperament and the more this matches that of the person around the animal, the more likely it is that you will become its favourite person, even if you aren`t the one who spends the most time with the animal. Quiet, introverted dogs tend to prefer people with a similar enery level, who speak softly, treat them calmly and respect their space. However, active and sociable dogs will be more likely to appoach people who can keep up with them, who are energetic and with whom they may enjoy long play sessions.
Positive association: the key to being your dog's favourite person
If you want to become your dog's favourite human, take note of this concept: positive association. Your dog will adore you above anyone else if you become its official provider of good experiences and feelings. You should encourage good things to happen to your dog whenever you are around. How can you do this? By serving your dog its food, surprising it with a treat from time to time, playing its favourite games with your pet or going for long walks that are relaxing for the animal, that is to say, no tugging or rush.
Other ideas that can help you strengthen your bond with your pet so that you can become its favourite human are short training sessions, offering your dog relaxing grooming routines such as brushing with petting, or surprising it with homemade treats (make sure they don't contain any toxic ingredients). If your dog is very energetic, go for a run with the animal or try an agility circuit together. If your pet is a growing puppy, you have to be careful not to make great efforts.
Contrary to positive association, your dog will add to its mental blacklist of least favourite people all those the animal associates with negative experiences, such as the vet, noisy or invasive people or those who steal its attention. For example, when a baby arrives in the family, try to make your dog associate it with positive stimuli, otherwise the animal will feel displaced and may become jealous of the little one.
Signs that your dog prefers you to other people
- It follows you everywhere, because your dog is sure that good things always happen around you.
- It looks for you when the animal wants to play.
- It covers you with licks and looks for your cuddles and caresses.
- It sits on top of you or curls up next to you on the sofa, even if there are other people sitting next to you.
- It greets you happily at the door when you arrive home from the street.
- When there are several people in the room seeking its attention, your dog will always choose you.
In short, dogs tend to have one or sometimes several favourite people in the household with whom they bind together more deeply. This choice is influenced by the personality of both, as well as aspects of positive association, quality time and physical contact. In any case, as much as you may be thrilled that your furry friend prefers you, you should never force this type of relationship with the animal. The bond that a dog forms with its favourite person is completely natural and spontaneous. It may be encouraged, but not planned. Whether or not you are your dog's favourite human, give it all your love and companionship and you will undoubtedly be a very important person in its life.